Improved serving-table



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. LANGE, oEPLYMoUTH, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVED SERVING-TABLE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 55,677, dated June 19, 1866.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, W. L. LANCE, of Plymouth,in the county of Luzerne, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new, useful, and Improved Serving-Table; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull and exact description thereof, reference being' had to the accompanying drawing.

The nature of my improvement consists in providing a revolving or moving serving-table, b, driven by steam or other power, with either two or three rings or continuous tables, u. a, for dining and other uses, and is constructed with two or three rings or continuous tables, the outer ring o. and inner ring ar fixed or stationary, having an open space, on the inside of the table o., for the seating of guests, as well as upon the outside of the table a., with an entrance or passageway either above or below the tables a a and b, the middle or center ring b or continuous table b, with one or more shelves, c d of, or a succession of shelves one above another, to revolve or move within or between the stationary rings or continuous tables a a, and so arranged as to seat persons conveniently at either the inner or outer rings or stationary tables a a, the central revolving or moving table b, with shelves c d c f, arranged one above another, loaded with the entire bill ot fare once in every fifteen or twenty feet or sections of the table and the table b, with shelves c d e j', so loaded with viands, to move, at the rate of fifteen or twenty feet per minute, orto pass before each guest at such speed as to exhibit before each guest the entire bill of fare once per minute, giving' each one ample opportunity to help him or herself to such viands as may suit their tastes. i

All persons at this table are put upon an equality and free to act for themselves, and these shelves so arranged as not only to contain the full bill of fare, and that kept hot by lamp or otherwise, but also to contain all the necessary dishes, knives, forks, spoons, glasses, &c., an d also so arranged as to carr I the dishes that have been used off into the pantry P, behind thescreen, where they are removed by the servant stationed at that point for that purpose, and where also are the persons stationed to supply and replenish the revolving or moving table b, with shelves c d cf. The carver and his assistants are also stationed behind the screen, which we here term 11 a1it ry,7 P, to supply continually the revolving` or moving table b and shelves e d ej". The dishes, after the guest has finished with them, are put upon the lower shelf or table b, which is hid from view by means of a lid or curtain.

All the servants that we require in the use of this moving-table is one upon the outside and one upon the inside, except those required in the pantry to put away the la-st dishes of each guest and brush off the crumbs and adjust the chair. This would be the requirements of a table that would seat, say, one hundred andiifr-y persons; but

That I claim as my invention and useful improvement, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The moving table b, combined with one or more stationary tables, a a., for dining and other use, substantially as set forth.

2. Moving table b, in combination with one or more pantry or furnishing or receiving rooms, P, in the manner described.

3. The moving table b and stationary tables a a, so arranged, having an open space, Q, forming a room on the inside or inner part of the tables a a and b, as described.

4. In combination wit-h the tables a, passage-way fz, either under or over tables a, a I),

by stairs or otherwise, substantially as set.

forth.

5. Dividing the table a a I) into sections, substantially as set forth.

6. In combination with the tables, the application of a flanged-wheel, R, or its equivalent, to support, guide, and steady a moving table, b, for dining and other uses, substantially as set forth.

7. In combination with the moving table, the fixed shaft x tothe legs Il of the table a a, supporting tables a a, upon which shaft .fr is wheel R to guide movable or moving table Z), substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

S. rIhe application of a belt, s, or its equivalent, to the driving of a movable or moving table, b, for dining and other uses, substair tially as set forth.

YV. L. LANGE. lVitnesses RoEr. LOVE, MosEs WADHAMs. 

